Working Together to End Homelessness

Membership Has Benefits

Our Mission

The mission of the Florida Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively to prevent and end homelessness in Florida.

The Issue

.Homelessness is an international, national, and local issue that has plagued communities since man first began to live in houses. Until all people in the world have access to affordable housing, homelessness will remain a widespread societal problem that needs to be addressed. Florida has the 3rd largest homeless population in the U.S.

About Us

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Since 1994, Florida Coalition for the Homeless (FCH) has distinguished itself as the state’s leading voice on homeless policy. Today, FCH continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to addressing homelessness in Florida by working with state and federal stakeholders to develop solution-driven practices.

Membership

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FCH assists its members with best practices and technical assistance training to help them implement solutions to homelessness locally. In turn, members help their communities create lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, youth and individuals throughout Florida. FCH offers three membership types.

The report contains data from each of 27 FL Continuums and presents census estimates on all major demographic groups including total homeless, sheltered, unsheltered, veterans, and chronically homeless persons. Comparisons with 2015 data are included for many data tables. The report also presents population prevalence rates of homelessness.

Data show a 7 percent decrease in total homelessness from 35,900 in 2015 to 33,466 in 2016. Veterans homeless fell 35% from 3,926 to 2,902”

The High Cost of Being Poor in Florida

Anti-Poverty Programs Help Alleviate Costs, But More Must Be Done to Reduce Burdens

“It is welcome news that the poverty rate in Florida declined from 16.5 percent in 2014 to 15.7 percent in 2015 and declined nationally from 15.5 percent in 2014 to 14.7 percent in 2015.1 Sustained economic gains, strengthened by federal and state policies that increase income or reduce expenses, have finally begun to reach our low-income neighbors.

This is good news, and with job growth continuing, we ought to be able to take steps to accelerate the pace of poverty reduction. But the precarious situation for the poor and near poor stands in the way of substantial progress. The fact is, it is expensive to be poor in the United States. New data released in September by the Census Bureau show that 3.1 million adults and children remain in poverty in Florida – and they need to pay every dime they have for necessities like rent, child care and groceries. They pay a premium for rent and food because of bad credit and inability to get to cheaper markets. Getting less value for their limited dollars, poor families are exposed to threats to health, child development, and employment. When expenses outstrip income, late fees and fines make things worse. For too many low-income Americans, predatory loans are a desperate attempt to stave off eviction or loss of a vehicle, leading instead to a trap of debt and poverty.

The new Census Bureau data also show that effective anti-poverty programs, like housing assistance, child care subsidies, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) lift millions out of poverty and reduce the cost of poverty for millions more. But more needs to be done to reduce the burden of poverty even further, and for more Floridians living in and near poverty every day.”

Who We Are

Since 1994, Florida Coalition for the Homeless (FCH) has distinguished itself as the state’s leading voice on homeless policy. Today, FCH continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to addressing homelessness in Florida by working with state and federal stakeholders to develop solution-driven practices.